street theater

American  

noun

1. the presentation of plays or other entertainments by traveling companies on the streets, in parks, etc., often with the use of temporary or mobile stages.

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Etymology

Origin of street theater

An Americanism dating back to 1955–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

street theater

In May, the group sang songs and performed anti-AI themed street theater outside of the Oakland federal courthouse during the high-profile Musk-Altman trial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

There was one critic from the New York Times, Richard Eder, who said it was street theater on the wrong street.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026

Their street theater reflected the emotional pain, exasperation, and outrage they harbored toward institutions that seemed hellbent on pacifying, controlling, immiserating, and erasing them.

From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2023

Another crucial inspiration during the initial development of the character was the work of Royal de Luxe, a street theater company based in Nantes, France, that specializes in creating large-scale marionettes.

From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

A small crowd surrounded them, enjoying the morning's street theater.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda